2 Kings 11:17

Jehoiada's Reforms

17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord's people and [another one] between the king and the people.[a]

2 Kings 11:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 11:17

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king
and the people, that they should be the Lord's people
Renewed the covenant between the Lord on the one part, and the king and the people on the other; assuring them, that as God had declared that he would be their God, he would yet be their God to bless and protect them, they continuing in obedience to him; and obliging them to promise that they would serve the Lord their God, and him only, and root out all idolatry from the land, and restore, and continue in, the pure worship of God:

between the king also and the people;
he promising, on his part, that he would govern them according to the law of God, and protect them in their rights and properties, privileges and liberties; and they, on their part, that they would honour and obey him, and be his faithful subjects. In ( 2 Chronicles 23:16 ) Jehoiada is said to make this covenant between him which may be understood of the Lord; or if of himself, the meaning is, that it was made between him, the king and people, and the Lord.

2 Kings 11:17 In-Context

15 Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, "Take her out between the ranks, and put anyone who follows her to death by the sword," for the priest had said, "She is not to be put to death in the Lord's temple."
16 So they arrested her, and she went out by way of the Horses' Entrance to the king's palace, where she was put to death.
17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord's people and [another one] between the king and the people.
18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images into pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars. Then [Jehoiada] the priest appointed guards for the Lord's temple.
19 He took [with him] the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord's temple. They entered the king's palace by way of the guards' gate. Then Joash sat on the throne of the kings.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Some Gk versions, 2 Ch 23:16 omit and [another one] between the king and the people
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